Fourteen years ago, a provincial government bent on cost-cutting and privatization contributed to a deadly water-borne disaster that unfolded over the Victoria Day long weekend — one that Ontario taxpayers are still paying for.

Now, a new would-be Progressive Conservative premier, Tim Hudak, is pledging to slash 100,000 public sector jobs — cuts far deeper than those that paved the way for the Walkerton, Ont., tragedy in May 2000.

Some worry history could be repeating itself.

“It can happen again,” Walkerton resident Phil Englishman said of the public health crisis.